Match splint forming machine



May 17, 1938.

R. F. ONSRUD ET AL MATCH SPLINT FORMING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheetl Osmzr Orzsrud y. 7, 1938. R. F. ONSRUD ET AL 2,117,446

MATCH SPLINT FORMING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1936 5Sh'eets-Sheet 2 In @enibr: P0070405 Oar/"0d Oscar Orzsrad May 1.7, 1938. R. F. ONSRUD ET AL MATCH SPLINT FORMING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oscar Orzsrud May 17, 1938.

R. F. ONSRUD ET AL MATCH SPLINT FORMING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a m m m 6 a i .w W s 1 a n m w 0 0 //////r//l /l/4\ H 1 6 I 7h 4/ 0. 4 1 a, P a A. M a a w 0 Ev. o \A r fr w I m a m H v m 1. w z w. x z I U I MM 5 Patented May 17, 1938.

UNITED STATES MATCH SPLINT FORMING MACHINE Rudolph F.

nsrdd and Oscar Onsrud, Chicago,

lll.,'assignors-to Onsrud Machine Works, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application lilarch 20, rate, Serial No. 69,910

30laims.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of matches and the construction disclosed herein is designed particularly for formsuitable for the specific class of work mentioned,

and to improve details of construction thereof enabling continuous and reliable operation of the machine; and the provision of various conveniences in the matter of accessibility to the operating parts and instant spacing apart as a unit of such elements of the machine as are near the line of travel of material operatedupon 20 so that access may be had to the material in any stage of the operation.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by means of the construction-illustrated in the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved match splint molding machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the center of the machine, as indicated by the line 22 on Fig. 4. c

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken horizontally through the machine as indicated by the line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the machine in end elevation and partly broken away and partly in section as indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail as indicated by the line 5-4 on Fig.3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as indicated by the line H on Fig. 3.

Fig. 'I is a sectional view taken on line 'I--'| of Fig. 3, showing in detail adjusting means for a lower grooved guide plate at the splint delivery tion responsive elements of the-head. HeretO-V fore the highest grade match splints have been made by splitting blocks of clear wood, such as white pine. Long splints have also been made by the use of molding machines. Then the splints are out across grain into. the desired match lengths. The ends, however, at the cross cuts are not exactly even and uniform.

To enable the successful use of a comparatively cheap wood but of the highest quality for the purpose, such as aspenjthe present machine is designed to use such parts of aspen wood as are free from knots in the form of small clear cards which are in the grain direction, of the length of the required finished splint, and which this machine cuts in that direction into the desired cross sectional form. The cards are stacked and placed in a chute at one end of the machine from whichthey are taken one by one, by a continuous feed mechanism, and caused to travel between upper and lower molding cutters and then delivered to a belt in perfect form, which carries the splints on for the finishing chemical treatment, partial drying, and heading.

Each of these machines, when arranged to operate upon cards four inches in width, produces twenty-seven splints from each card and at the rate of four and one-half million splints in ten hours: H

The main features of construction of themachine are a frame upon which is mounted for vertical motion a table which carries feed mechanism for moving the cards horizontally along the table and also carries the lower molding cutter, while in relatively fixed position on the main frame above this table is the upper molding cutter, ,upper feed belt. and pressure shoes for holds. ing the stock while it is being cut. With this arrangement of molding machine the guide table, lower feed mechanism and lower. cutter may be instantly shifted downwardly clear .of the upper cooperating units, and thusaflord access to the work in any stage of operation, allowing for prompt clearance of the machine if necessary and access to the cutting-units, each of which is also shiftable horizontally away. from the operating position.

In the drawings the main machine frame is indicated at I. The table 2 which supports the cards during the cutting operation is rigid with a vertically movable frame 3 arranged to travel along guide flanges 4 on the main frame i. The table 2 and frame 3 are normally held in the exact upper working position by the toggle mechanism 5 shown in Fig. 4. This mechanism comprises a turn buckle form of links 6 pivoted at f.

' in this figure away from the upper cutter l2,

and the upper guide and pressure shoes l3, l4 and II, and an pper feed belt l6, Fig. 2. The lower feed belt I! moves down with the table 2.

Power for driving the feed belts is derived from motor l6 and power for the upper cutter I2 is supplied'by motor l6, Fig. 3, while the lower .cutter 26 is driven by motor 2|.

The motor l6, Fig. 5, through the belts 22 and speed changing tapered pulleys 23 and 24, drives the vertical shaft 26 upon which is gear 26. Gear 26 meshes with gears 21 and 26 for respectively transmitting motioh to the feed belts l6 and I1.

The gearing for upper feed belt drive shaft 29 is indicated in Fig. 3, and consists of worm 36, worm-wheel 3|"and chain drive 32, which operates shaft 26 through clutch 33. This clutch may throw. out against the 'action of of an overload on-shaft 29. K

The lower feed belt I! is driven by similar spring 34 in case means as illustrated in Fig. 5. Gear 28 is fast to a vertical shaft 25 to which is splined so that it may slide vertically thereon, a worm 36 which meshes with worm wheel 31 on the horizontal shaft 36. This shaft carries the drive sprockets 36 for belt II, Fig. 2.

- When the table 2 and its supporting frame-6 are lowered away from the upper cutter l2, upper feed belt and pressure feet, the lower feed belt unit moves down with the table 2 to which it is secured, and the worm wheel 36, Fig. 5, slides down along shaft 36.

The support 46, Fig. 2, which carries and houses the upper feed belt, also supports motor II and the transmission gearing therefor. This unit may be adjusted vertically as the frame 46,

Fig. 5, is guided in vertical ways 4| on the main frame I. Vertical adjustment is eii'ected by handwheel 42. The belt pressure is further regulated by adjustment of the resilient pressure plate 43 through screws 44. The belt is tightened by rotating eccentricshaft 45 The upper belt feeds the wooden cards operated upon by frictional engagement with the tops of the cards and the lower belt feeds the cards one at a time, by engage-- ment with the rear edges thereof, by means of' the lugs 46 secured to the links of the belt.

These lugs are of tooth form and pass through guide slots 41 at the end of table 2. The cards are pushed forward along the table between it and the stationary guide, 46' and from this position each card is pushed by the following one into positionto be carried forward along the table by means of belt l6. The pressure foot I5 is beveled at its end so as to guide the card down firmly against the table top.- Springs 66 exert suiiicient pressure-against foot l5 to firmly hold the card during operation of the lower cutter 20 which rotatesagainst the direction of travel of the card and grooves it to form half way through.

The cuts are completed from the upper side by cutter l2, which also rotates against the direction of movement of the cards and the latter are held against the table top, while the upper cutter operates thereon, by the resilient pressure feet l4 and,l3. The latter is longitudinally grooved so as to receive in seperate' channels the splints, as

I formed.

(The compression of the springs 56 for the pressure shoes is regulated by screws 5! a d t e whole machine as appears in Fig. 1.

unit may be raised or lowered along guides 52 in grooved plate 56 in the table 2 and the latter is adjustable in all directions as illustrated in Figure 7. The wedge 51, operated by screw 66,

serves to shift this plate up or down in exact parallelism with grooved shoe l3. It is necessary to have the end of the plate quite close to cutter 20, and it is copper tipped at 56 to guard against thecutter 20 engaging a hard .metal in case of improper adjustment of the plate. p

The wooden 'cards which are operated upon are indicated in a vertical column at 60', Fig. Theyare fed downwardly by the weight 6| which carries a pivoted tooth 62 projecting into the magazine chute' 63 through slot 64 therein. Stacks of cards-are fedto the top of the chute above the tooth 62 and the latter may swing downward around its'pivot against the action bf spring 66 whenever the weight is lifted by means of cord 66. At that time the tooth ratchets up over the cards.

The cutting motors l6 and 2| are controlled by switches 61 and 66 and the feed mechanism motor i8 is controlled by switches 69. Relays for these switches and other electric control devices for the motors are located in box 10 mounted 'on' the back of frame 'I, and on the base I2 of the The feed belts may be turned by hand independently of motor It by means of the wheel 13, Fig. 5, which is attached to pulley. 24.

The belt I! may be adjusted forwardly or backwardl'y independent of belt I 6 by releasing clutch I4, Fig. 4, which is similar to clutch 33 previously described, and ordinarily serves the same purpose of disengaging in case of allover-- load on the lower belt feed. In this case the clutch is partly enclosed by the gear housing and is accessible by removing the cover I5 attached to the housing.

The teeth 46 carried by the lower feed belt pass through slots in the feed belt guiding and cutting unit is mounted upon frame. I, but each is independently adjustable vertically as in guideways 16, Fig. 1, and by hand wheels 16. The

cutting units are also movable in the horizontal guideways 19 sidewise of the machine toward and away from the working position by means of hand levers 80 pivoted at 8| and having a link connection 82 tothe motor frame. Gauges 63 and 84, Fig. '4,,..when. incontact determine the working position of the tool.

A slight vertical tilting adiustment of the cutting motor units is also desirable and is effected by the screws and 66.

' 'In the operation of the machine the feed chute 63 receives a continuous supply of the wooden cards 66 and the weight 6| is lifted from time to time to maintain a downward pressure on the cards at the lower end of the stack. The lowermost card can tilt downward over the tooth 46 passing beneath it and into position to be engaged by the next oncoming tooth which serves to push the card along the table 2 and beneath the fixed guide 48. The following cards, push the foremost one into position to be engaged by feed belt I6 and the cards are by this belt forced one after another into the space between the cutter 20 and the pressure feet l4 and i5. The cards'are first grooved smooth underneath by cutter 20 and then above by cutter l2, and while the cut 'is being finished by cutter I 2 the splints pass into and between the grooves formed in pressure foot l3 and in plate 56, and are pushed out of the machine by the oncoming product, and delivered to a belt which carries the splints along for treatment and completion into matches.

The operation is rapid and simple and the machine is pleasing to work, for in case of difficulty because of inferior stock the cooperating units of the machine may be quickly and widely separated by drawing the handle H forwardly, thus ,enabling easy clearing of the machine and the restoring of the movable unit to the exact operating position.

Close adjustments of the various operating parts of the machine are possible and important; for instance it is found that the upper feed belt l6 should be very slightly inclined with reference to thetable top 2 so as exert more pressure on the top of the cards when first engaged by the belt than when leaving the belt. There is space between the cards only at the time of leaving the magazine and when first engaged by the upper feed belt. After that the cards come together and the operation is continuous, as though on. a continuous strip of material. I

We claim:

1. In a match splint molding machine a frame structure having mounted thereon an auxiliary frame for vertical movement on said frame structure; said frame structure carrying above said auxiliary frame a supply magazine for material operated upon, a belt conveyor for such material, a pressurefoot, a cutter and pressure foot all in succession; said auxiliary frame being equipped with a belt feed for the material operated upon, a cutter, and a grooved plate forreceiving material as cut and opposed to one of said pressure feet; a common drive means for both of said belt conveyors, anda sliding connection between said drive means and the lower belt conveyor arranged to maintain operative relationship between said drive means and the lower belt conveyor irrespective of the vertical movement of said lower frame member.

2. In a match splint molding machine, a main framestructure, an auxiliary frame mounted for vertical movement on the main frame, a supply magazine carried by the main frame and located above the auxiliary frame, for material operated upon, an upper belt conveyor for such material, a pressure foot, a cutter and pressure foot all in succession, means for mounting the pressure feet as a unit on the main frame structure for vertical adjustment independently of the main frame structure and the cutter and for vertical movement independently of each other, said auxiliary frame being equipped with a belt feed for the material operated upon, a cutter, a common drive means for both of said belt conveyors, and a sliding connection between said drive means and the lower belt conveyor arranged to maintain operative relationship between said drive means and the lower belt conveyor irrespective of the vertical movement of the auxiliary frame.

3. In a match splint molding machine, a main frame structure, an auxiliary frame mounted for vertical movementon the main frame, a supply magazine carried by the main frame structure and located above the auxiliary frame for material operated upon, an upper belt conveyor for such material, a pressure foot, a cutter and pressure foot all in succession, said auxiliary frame being equipped with a lower belt feed for the material operated upon, a cutter, a common drive means for both of said belt conveyors, a sliding connection between said drive means and the lower belt conveyor arranged to maintain operative relationship between said drive means and the lower belt conveyor irrespective of the vertical movement of said auxiliary frame, a support for the upper belt conveyor and said common drive means mounted on the main frame structure for vertical movement independently of the cutter, a guideway for said support, and means foradlusting the support upwardly and downwardly.

RUDOLPH F. ONSRUD. OSCAR ONSRUD. 

